C146 Heavenly Battle Sect!

The Tang family's failure to locate Qin Buyi boiled down to one simple fact: he had already departed the Heavenly Desolate Realm and made his way back to Blue Star. If the Tangs could still track him down after his return to Blue Star, it would be nothing short of a miracle.

Qin Buyi, having decimated the Tangs in Azure Sun City, was well aware that they wouldn't take the defeat lying down and were bound to seek retribution. Later, upon acquiring the Star Compass and encountering Qingqian during his quest for the star core, he faced threats that left him no choice but to retreat to Blue Star, effectively putting an end to the conflict and inadvertently dodging the Tang family's vengeance.

Tang Yuan stood with his hand raised in the still air, feeling a growing soreness. Amidst his growing anxiety, Qin Buyi extended his hand and accepted the box from Tang Yuan.

Tang Yuan exhaled in relief. Qin Buyi's acceptance of the box signaled that the dispute was likely 80% resolved. Tang Yuan's greatest fear was that Qin Buyi would refuse to reconcile or, worse, exploit the situation to demand a hefty compensation from the Tang family. The rumors had painted Qin Buyi as someone who never let a slight go unavenged and never postponed his retribution. The Tangs of Azure Sun City had learned this firsthand; it hadn't been long since their provocation led to their utter annihilation.

Upon receiving the box, Qin Buyi's Divine Consciousness swept through the ten storage rings inside. They contained not only a vast number of Spirit Stones but also an array of materials for crafting weapons and concocting pills. For the Tang family, even with a Mahayana Stage powerhouse among them, amassing three hundred million Low Grade Spirit Stones was no small feat. These items were hastily cobbled together by the Tangs in a desperate bid to make amends.

To mend fences with the formidable Qin Buyi, they knew they had to demonstrate genuine contrition. In this world, nothing spoke louder than Spirit Stones. Words could only convey so much, but a substantial offering of Spirit Stones spoke volumes.

The Tang family, with their many years of existence, understood that only mutual benefits could dissolve old grudges and animosity.

Qin Buyi casually tossed the box along with ten storage rings into the System Mall's recycling feature.

Ding! Item valuation in progress...

Ding! Valuation complete. Total value: 30,000 Merchant Points.

The exchange rate at the System Mall was 10,000 low-grade Spirit Stones for one Merchant Point.

After trading in 300 million low-grade Spirit Stones, he had precisely 30,000 Merchant Points.

Qin Buyi converted all these Merchant Points into attribute points, with the rate of 80 points per attribute point at the seventh level, netting a total of 375 attribute points.

He allocated all 375 attribute points to himself and then opened his personal information panel:

Name: Qin Buyi

Desolate Body: Intermediate

All attributes increased by 10%.

Cultivation: Seventh Level, Tribulation Crossing Middle Period (1396/2000)

Divine Consciousness: Tribulation Crossing Late Period

Strength: 1396

Speed: 1396

Physical Strength: 1396

Attack Power: 1396

Defense: 1396

Fortune: 1396

...

Killing Saber, Seventh Level (1396/2000)

Broken Blade (2/9)

Attack Amplification: 20%

Attack Power: 1396

Killing Saber Technique, Seventh Level (1396/2000)

Attack Power: 1396

Azure Dragon, Seventh Level (1396/2000)

With his cultivation breaking through to the Tribulation Crossing Middle Period and his Divine Consciousness reaching the Late Period, Qin Buyi's combat power soared to a new height. In a rematch with the raging fire, the outcome would undoubtedly be the fire's demise.

With his newfound power, Qin Buyi reckoned he could now go toe-to-toe with someone in the early stages of the Mahayana Realm.

At this point, Qin Buyi could certainly be counted among the top-tier powerhouses of the Ming Dynasty.

Having people deliver Spirit Stones to him right after his Tribulation Crossing was like being offered a pillow just as he was thinking about taking a nap.

The grudges with the Tang family were no longer a concern for Qin Buyi.

When Tang Yuan presented such a generous offering, Qin Buyi responded directly, "I understand Patriarch Tang Yuan's intentions. From this moment forward, any grievances between us and the Tang family are settled."

Upon hearing Qin Buyi's words, Tang Yuan felt a weight lift from his heart.

Moments later, with a look of astonishment, Tang Yuan observed Qin Buyi accepting the gift he had offered. Almost instantly, an aura of breakthrough surged from Qin Buyi's body.

As the Tang family's most advanced cultivator, Tang Yuan immediately recognized that Qin Buyi had ascended from the early to the middle period of Tribulation Crossing. The energy Qin Buyi exuded even instilled a sense of trepidation in him.

Tang Yuan mused, "It's been what, three days since his Tribulation Crossing? He's breaking through realms as if it's as simple as having a meal or a drink. It's no wonder there are whispers of an immortal backing him—most likely, there's truth to it."

After all, there are no impenetrable walls in this world, nor are there secrets that remain forever hidden.

On the day Honglian took over Qin Buyi's body to slay the inferno, nearly every Mahayana Stage expert in the Imperial Capital had some inkling of the event. The extent of their knowledge varied, but none were completely in the dark.

Tang Yuan spent some time with Qin Buyi, exchanging tales of their extraordinary experiences. Once he felt his visit had served its purpose, he took his leave.

Qin Buyi summoned Lan Linglong to escort Tang Yuan out of Area 1.

Alone in his room, Qin Buyi pondered his next steps. One-fifth of the time allotted for the system's Epic Level mission had elapsed, and within a year, he aimed to become the most formidable figure in the Ming Dynasty.

Qin Buyi had previously believed Dean Hee Yan of the College of Ming Dynasty to be the pinnacle of cultivation within the empire. However, in his recent exchange with Tang Yuan, he had casually inquired about the true number one in the Ming Dynasty.

With a knowing glance, Tang Yuan leaned in and confided, "Emperor Ying Qian stands unrivaled in the Ming Dynasty. It's said he has even reached the Half Immortal Stage."

Tang Yuan leaned in close to Qin Buyi, his voice a secretive whisper, "Emperor Ying Qian of the Great Ming Dynasty is undoubtedly the foremost figure, a powerful being rumored to have broken through to the Half Immortal Stage."

"The Half Immortal Stage is the next realm beyond the Mahayana Stage. Reaching the Half Immortal signifies one is a step closer to true immortality."

"Brother Qin, had someone claimed years ago that Emperor Ying Qian had reached the Half Immortal Stage, I might have dismissed it. But over the years, I've come to believe it."

Qin Buyi's brow furrowed slightly as he inquired, "Why is that?"

Tang Yuan elaborated, "Emperor Ying Qian was in the prime of his life when he made the breakthrough. Consider the internal strife within the court these past years—the First Prince and the Third Prince locked in a fierce battle for power."

"In most dynasties, such turmoil usually signals an aging emperor preparing his successors for the inevitable transition of power."

"But to suggest that Emperor Ying Qian's time is short? I'd be the first to refute that. The truth is, he intends to abdicate the throne and pursue further cultivation at the Heavenly Battle Sect."

"The Heavenly Battle Sect?" Qin Buyi echoed, puzzled.

Ensuring their privacy with a sweep of his Divine Consciousness, Tang Yuan murmured, "I stumbled upon this information unintentionally. I might as well share it with you today, Brother Qin."

"Consider it a gesture of goodwill. With the rate of your cultivation progress, you would have uncovered this sooner or later."